Fischer selected to chair House Agriculture Committee

Nov. 28, 2012

Randy Fischer

Written by

State Rep. Randy Fischer, D-Fort Collins, was tapped by party leadership Wednesday as chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, which he says will tackle many issues of local concern.

The committee will vet issues involving natural resources, such as the debate over municipalities — including Fort Collins — exerting control over oil and gas exploration within their boundaries.

“I believe a lot of the issues that come through the ag committee deeply affect my local constituents,” Fischer said. “Oil and gas issues will be front and center of what we will be dealing with over the next couple of years.”

Water supply and forest health issues to reduce wildfires will occupy the committee, Fischer said. He supports revisiting a proposal to allow gray water use in Colorado that failed amid Republican opposition last year. Democrats reclaimed the majority in the House earlier this month, when Fischer was elected to his fourth House term.

Fischer has previously served on the agriculture committee but is a new appointee to the Capital Development Committee that decides which construction projects the state will fund. With Colorado State University’s main campus in his district, Fischer said he brings an important voice for higher education to the committee.